The Ultimate Guide to Christmas Ideas for Girls in 2018

Sugar, spice, and everything nice—these are the things that little girls are made of. But we also know that within each little girl is a growing set of interests, experiences, thoughts, and emotions that make her perfectly unique. Some girls love caring for animals, while others prefer learning about microorganisms. One little girl may be just as content in front of a makeup mirror as she is on the pitcher’s mound or curled up in her reading nook at home. At Mouse + Magpie, we’re proud to curate children’s decor items that empower girls to be their most complex and unique selves—and to help their loved ones find gifts that inspire and delight, no matter what their little girls are interested in.

We know that shopping for little girls can be both exciting and challenging. This ultimate guide will help you find the perfect gift for the little scientist, explorer, or artist in your life—or the little girl who happens to be all three. These ideas range from toys and books to science kits and tech gadgets—along with decor items that bring your little girl's interests to life in her living space. The following gift ideas have been separated first by age and then by interest, but feel free to mix-and-match according to the unique needs of your little girl.

Click here to go directly to a set of gift ideas for girls in the following age groups:

Christmas Ideas for Baby and Toddler Girls (Ages 0-2)

Putting together gifts for babies and toddlers is so much fun. You can't go wrong with a developmental puzzle or toy, or a selection of new clothes to help parents survive her next jump in size. However, we also think there is something really special about selecting a unique, one-of-kind gift for your little girl's nursery, playroom, or bathroom. Here are a few ideas.

For A Brand-New Baby (or One on the Way): Bath Time Bundle

One simple gift idea that will be appreciated by all new parents is a bath time bundle, featuring a cozy hooded towel or bath towel, and some gentle baby shampoo, bath soap, and lotion. This easily put together gift is perfect for families still appreciating that sweet new baby smell!

For A Toddler Girl: On-Theme Gift Set

If you’re shopping for a toddler, you already know which theme or color scheme is prevalent in your little girl’s bedroom. Use this inspiration to curate the perfect gift set.

Pick up a canvas art print in a whimsical, child-friendly design and pair it with a fun toy or activity. We love pairing Valentina Belloni’s Unicorn Ride canvas print with a unicorn stuffed toy, or Liza Lewis’s Dinoland Adventure print with a bucket of Play-Doh for her to create her own dinos!

Christmas Ideas for Preschool Girls (Ages 3-5)

Preschool-aged little girls are incredibly curious, energetic, enthusiastic, and interested in the world around them. These are the easiest little girls to shop for, as they are fascinated by anything and everything they see. Choose one of the following gifts to go along with her biggest interest, or go for something completely new to help broaden her horizons! You never know what a child will enjoy most, so feel free to be creative and thoughtful in your choice. These gifts are imagined for little girls ages three to five to enjoy, but many of the following ideas would be enjoyed by all ages.

For the Girl Who Snuggles

Little girls in this age group love to be surrounded by different textures to touch and explore, and a children’s Sherpa blanket will be incredibly attractive to little fingers and faces. She’ll love cuddling up with this blanket during naptime and for reading stories.

For the Girl Who Experiments

Preschool science and engineering experiments are some of the most fun because you get to watch your little girl make ground-breaking discoveries while mastering crucial fine motor skills. An age-appropriate STEM building set plays into little girls’ drive to build and create, while laying the groundwork for principles of engineering and design that she’ll explore later in her development. Encourage further exploration by hanging similar artwork in her playroom or nursery space—we particularly love Brett Blumenthal’s colorful construction collection for this theme.

For the Girl Who Loves to Move

Preschoolers are all energy and always in motion. It’s almost like they are trying to test every physical movement they can possibly do—and that’s what makes a low-to-the-ground toddler balance beam so much fun. Your little girl will learn powerful coordination skills and strengthen crucial muscle groups while engaging in hours of laughter and play. Whether you make your own or choose a pre-made balance beam, this is a gift that your little girl won’t be able to keep her hands (or feet) off of. Though she’ll be close to the ground already, it’s always a good idea to pad her playroom floor with comfy throw pillows in whimsical playtime designs!

For the Girl Who Loves Animals

Many preschool-aged girls are completely captivated by animals of all kinds. They’re also at the perfect age to thoroughly enjoy a hooded towel after bath time each night. Combine the two for a fantastic and functional Christmas gift that will be enjoyed daily by the little girl of your choice. Hooded towels (especially when animal-themed) are basically an excuse to play dress up and pretend as part of bath time! For the farm-obsessed, we recommend the Delores the Donkey hooded towel or one with an adorable flock of birds design.

For the Girl Who Exudes Creativity

Preschool is full of glitter, finger paint, and Elmer’s glue—and that’s because the littlest girls absolutely love to be creative and explore the arts. You could purchase the entire craft store for your little one, but we recommend going for a high-impact item like a wooden artist’s easel. She’ll spend endless hours coloring, painting, and playing with chalk. As she grows, she’ll love using this easel to play school.

For the Girl Who Doesn’t Need More Toys

If you’re not sure what to give to a little girl in the preschool age bracket (or if her parents have respectfully asked for gifts that aren’t toys), try gifting some multipurpose child-friendly decor. Children’s throw pillows with whimsical designs are fun to use in the playroom for storytime floor cushions and might even turn into their favorite snuggling pillows at night. Choose truly unique designs involving dinosaurs, unicorns, or pandas. You never know how much fun a child can have with a simple and high-quality pillow.

Christmas Ideas for School-Age Girls (Ages 6-8)

While little girls are always learning, this time in their lives involves serious expansion of mental connections. By the time your little girl is in her early elementary years, she’s in the prime time to explore new interests and dive deep into areas that are most exciting to her. Fuel that fire of curiosity with your Christmas gift! The gift ideas below are perfect for school-age girls who are eager to learn more about their widely varied interests.

For the Girl Who Loves to Learn

Introduce your little tinkerer to electronics and robotics through interacting with an incredibly fun robot! A coding robot helps girls learn to code through fun adventure play—and because it has endless programmable abilities. This is one Christmas idea that beautifully pairs learning with playing and will provide countless hours of developmental entertainment.

For the Girl Who Prefers Quiet Pursuits

School-age girls who enjoy independent quiet time often fall in love with books and the imaginative escape they offer. We love the idea of giving a rich bundle of books and cozy items to help your little girl create her perfect quiet evening. Put together a basket with a couple of excellent young middle-grade novels, a pair of warm holiday pajamas, and a soft Sherpa blanket with a fun, kid-friendly design. She’ll be curled up and completely absorbed in another world in no time.

For the Girl Who Plays Hard: Outdoor Bounce Gear

If you’ve got a six to eight-year-old girl with endless physical energy, you know that outside play is key to her (and your) happiness. This Christmas, supplement her outdoor adventures with some classic and simple bouncing toys that will provide hours of laughter. We love vinyl hop balls, which are great for solo play, or wearable bumper balls for fun with friends. For a fun indoor alternative, we always recommend a friendly pillow fight! Our soft and squishy throw pillows are perfect for indoor play, especially when they have space dinosaurs on them.

For the Girl Who Loves the Natural World

Girls at this age love to explore on their own, get their hands dirty, and make exciting discoveries about the natural world around them. That’s why a naturalist kit packed with nature guides, specimen collection tools, and binoculars makes a fantastic Christmas gift. Encourage your little girl to explore with you in the woods, the park, or even her own backyard, and let her new naturalist kit guide the way—and maybe consider decorating her playroom with some bugs and butterflies artwork to further spark her interest!

For the Girl Who Exudes Creativity

If your little girl is endlessly creative, you can bet she’s already got a slew of art supplies at home to play with. Take her curiosity in a new direction by encouraging her to explore art and crafting in a totally new way. We love kits that help little girls learn to sew, knit their first scarves, or publish their own comic books. Who knows? You might help her develop a new hobby that will inspire creations for years to come. At Mouse + Magpie, we work with artists who use a wide variety of mediums to create inspiring and imaginative children’s artwork, so we love encouraging little creatives to find new ways to practice their art.

For the Girl Who Has “Everything”

It’s always fun for little girls to get some variety in their living spaces, so don’t hesitate to spark her imagination with new and whimsical bathroom decor. We recommend starting with a kids’ shower curtain that really makes a statement, then add a bath mat, bath towels, and other accessories as needed. She’ll love the chance to give her bathroom a new makeover, and these functional and fun items will be appreciated by the whole family.

Christmas Ideas for Older Girls (Ages 9+)

Finally, we’ll offer a set of Christmas gift ideas for the older girls in the house. This age is a little harder to shop for because these girls tend to have their interests and wishes well in hand. They know what they like, and they know exactly what they want for Christmas this year. We recommend first asking loved ones what items are on her wish list for 2018. Then, if you’d like to branch out from there, consider some of the thoughtful gift ideas below.

For the Girl Who Is Obsessed With Music

Some little girls dutifully go to piano or violin lessons months after they’ve lost interest—but some are absolutely in love with the study of music. This year, give her a gift that celebrates music in all its forms, and deck out her playroom or living space with some adorable music-themed decor. From lamps to pillows to soft Sherpa blankets, Mouse + Magpie’s music collections will show how much you care and encourage her interests!

For the Girl Who Loves the Outdoors

Does your little girl spend all of her free time outside? She would probably love to have her very own camping gear to use in the backyard or on an upcoming family trip! An appropriately sized camping chair and sleeping bag set would not be out of place here, and we definitely recommend providing some camping-themed blankets and pillows as well. These make perfect comfy in-tent accessories and provide excellent fodder for an indoor camping trip in case the weather doesn’t work out as planned.

For the Girl Who Has a Green Thumb

If your little girl is obsessed with plants and critters and can’t keep her hands off the garden tools while you’re working in the backyard, it may be time for you to provide her own little spot of gardening heaven. Gift your little girl a raised garden bed and her very own garden tool set. Then, take a field trip together to choose soil and whichever seeds, flowers, and plants strike her fancy. This gift does double duty by fostering her interests and creating quality time you both can enjoy together.

For the Girl Who Loves Tech

Girls in this age group may be totally confident in their use of a cell phone camera. But if your girl is really serious about electronics, she’ll absolutely love having a digital and video camera to help her create super high-quality content. This model has all the features you would want, is incredibly sturdy, and happens to be relatively inexpensive. Get ready for an underwater photo shoot, a family vacation vlog, and a thousand utterances of “Come look what I made!”

For the Girl Who Gets Bored Easily

Boxes, crates, clubs, and subscriptions are incredibly popular in 2018, and for good reason—they provide curated items delivered to your doorstep each month that your little girl is guaranteed to love. A monthly book club box, like Kids Book Case Club and Owl Crate Jr., is a fantastic gift for girls who read everything in sight. Pair it with a cozy blanket or pillow and you’re set. Or, sign your girl up for a science club subscription and watch as she looks forward to tinkering, experimenting, and building new STEM projects each month.

For the Girl Who Loves to Decorate

While nine and ten-year-olds may not be ready for a completely new pre-teen bedroom, but they still might really enjoy swapping out some of the decor in their living space. Children’s art prints are the perfect solution for these growing girls eager for something new and inspiring to look at every day. Now is the perfect time to infuse her room with themes she’s interested in, from mermaids and unicorns to flowers and safari animals.

Choosing Thoughtful Christmas Ideas for Girls

All of the Christmas ideas listed above have one thing in common: they’re thoughtfully selected for the enjoyment of the individual little girl in mind. No matter the age, no matter the interest, the intention is the one aspect of gift giving that makes all the difference. Spend some time really thinking about the little girl you’ll be gifting to this year. Think about her spirit, her dreams, her talents, and what makes her unique. Combine those answers with the ideas listed above (or ideas from our other gift guides), and you’ll be well on your way toward putting a truly thoughtful and meaningful gift under the tree for Christmas 2018.

Loving the gift ideas we’ve shared here?

You can find all of the decor products listed (and much more) in the Mouse + Magpie collection.